A wild horse can be tamed by whispering the Creed into his left ear on Wednesday and into his right ear on Friday. The procedure is repeated until the horse is calmed.
If a bird flew into the house it was to insure death.
A purse made from a weasel would never be empty.
It is unlucky to knit at night until you were certain the sheep were asleep.
It is fortunate to hear a cuckoo call - but only if it was on your right side.
If a child is born before noon, they would not be able to see spirits or the good people, but if they were born at night, the child would have the gift.
It is unlucky to build an house extension from the rear, especially if it faces west. A story is told that one family defied the custom with tragedy as the result when they lost two menfolk at sea and a third went mad.
It is common to give a "lucky penny" to the buyer of livestock, which is giving a portion of the sale back to the seller when a deal is made. Spitting on the palm and slapping the hand of the customer seals the deal. A man's status within a community is determined by the size of the "luck penny" he habitually gives.
A stocking filled with hot potatoes and applied to the throat cures tonsillitis.
Shaving on Sunday caused toothaches; carrying a haddock's jawbone prevented them.
Boiled daisies relieve sore eyes.
Kepl boiled in milk cures boils.
Unsalted butter rubbed on a stitch in the side makes it go away.
Rubbing warts with fresh-cut potatoes and burying the potato in the garden would cure the growth.
Changing the name of a boat is said to change its luck.
Coins dropped overboard would cause a storm.
It is unlucky to keep the first salmon of the season.
Taking short-cuts from established routes along the shore is unlucky.
Water that is used to wash feet is never thrown out at night. And when it is thrown out, one must always be careful to warn the good people.
Falling soot, color changes in frogs, curlews calling, midges biting, and swallows flying low all foretell changes for good or ill.
Big shoals foretell a plentiful harvest.
If there are three boats together, they must be lashed all together for it is unlucky to be the third boat out.
Sharks are not hunted on Sunday.
No family called Cregan or Kerry will not be drowned.
Bad weather comes from greedy pollock.
Boarding a boat from the right or coal thrown after a fisherman boards his boat brings good luck.
Porpoises swimming near shore, lobster and crabs on rocks, seaulls and other sea-birds flying in-land are all signs of bad weather.
If you drink nettle soup on May 1, you will be free of rheumatism for a year.
It is unlucky to go on a trip on St. Martins Eve and the Feast of St. Martin on November 10 and 11.
On January 6, the day of Ephiphany, a tail of a herring is rubbed across the eyes of children to protect hem from disease for the rest of the year.
A straw from the Nativity scene is put up into rafters on St. Brigid's Day, February 1, to protect against evil spirits or to cure ringworm.
Some believe that it is only safe to travel in a boat when steered by a new bride.
It is lucky to sow potatoes on Good Friday.
Taking short cuts on all Souls Day, November 2, cause fear that they would be led astray.
It is unlucky to move a house, get married, begin a big project, or take an overnight journey on Saturday.
Carry a rabbit's foot for good luck. (The rabbit is a pagan symbol, quite offensive to Christianity)
If a stray cat comes into the house, make every effort to make it stay, but if you move, leave it behind.
Never look at a cat right after it rubs its face with its paws - the first person the cat looks at will be the first person in the house to die.
If a crow flys directly over a home, it is an omen of death.
Whenever a rooster crows, the saying is quoted, "God between us and all harm," no doubt a reference to the betrayal of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane.
Position a horseshoe above a door with the points up so that luck will not run out.
If you are an Irish bride, make sure a horseshoe is included with all your ensemble.
It used to be that Irish mothers would purposefully make their children unattractive, for beautiful things were much sought after treasure.
Crossed knives on a counter top indicates arguments to come.
Do not open an umbrella in the house.
Do not let lilacs bloom inside a home.
